pellet

[pel-it]

noun

1. a small, rounded or spherical body, as of food or medicine.

2. a small wad or ball of wax, paper, etc., for throwing, shooting, or the like.

3. one of a charge of small shot, as for a shotgun.

4. a bullet.

5. a ball, usually of stone, formerly used as a missile.

6. Also called cast. Ornithology.,  a small, roundish mass of matter regurgitated by certain predatory birds, consisting of the indigestible remains, as the fur, feathers, and bones, of the prey.

7. (in Romanesque architecture) a hemispherical or disklike carved ornament.

8. Heraldry.,  ogress.

verb (used with object)

1. to form into pellets; pelletize.

2. to hit with pellets.

pellet

/ ˈpɛlɪt /

noun

1. a small round ball, esp of compressed matter

   a wax pellet

2. 1. an imitation bullet used in toy guns

   2. a piece of small shot

3. a stone ball formerly used as a catapult or cannon missile

4. Also called: cast.  casting. ornithol a mass of undigested food, including bones, fur, feathers, etc, that is regurgitated by certain birds, esp birds of prey

5. a small pill

6. a raised area on coins and carved or moulded ornaments

verb

1. to strike with pellets

2. to make or form into pellets

Other Word Forms

• pelletlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pellet¹

1325–75; Middle English pelet < Middle French pelote < Vulgar Latin *pilotta, diminutive of Latin pila ball. See pill ¹, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of pellet¹

C14: from Old French pelote, from Vulgar Latin pilota (unattested), from Latin pila ball

Example Sentences

The rifle, it turned out, was a battery-powered airsoft gun, which shoots plastic pellets.

From Los Angeles Times

Veterinarians determined the female cub had a malformed shoulder and elbow, along with a BB pellet embedded in her paw, the nonprofit said.

From Los Angeles Times

They kicked them while wearing heavy work boots and shot them at close range with rubber pellets.

From Salon

The team also found the pellets "still going round appear to be sucking up more pollution from the environment" and were becoming "more toxic", according to Mr Megson.

From BBC

Marshal and found carrying a fake badge, gun and zip ties is dead after he was shot by San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies while holding a pellet gun, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bullet 
• pill